I recently found myself enjoying some delicious Cajun cuisine at Papa Mojo's Roadhouse in Durham, NC. Along with the expected Abita brews, I also found some familiar regional brews on the menu. I had come across Natty Greene's brews many times before, but never got around to trying any of them. I decided to finally remedy this and try their Southern Pale Ale.

In the glass, this beer looks like a cross between a baseline amber and a golden ale. If I had to pick a coloration, I'd say standard honey would suffice. The aroma is quite citrusy with many malty notes swirling around. The beer is classified as a pale ale, but to me it comes across more like an amber hybrid. It's very interesting and had me eager to get in for that first sip.

The first flavors to emerge are crisp hops and light citrus. Definitely a pale ale, so my eyes and nostrils were sated. The hop profile has an earthy quality and is properly balanced with the malt. The hops have a more muted presence and refrain from fighting the citrus. Both flavors combine to form a tangy mouthfeel, but the malty backbone keeps the beer highly drinkable. It's a good pale ale to study without getting distracted by bitterness. The finish is clean, mild and leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste that quickly dissipates.

Overall, Natty Greene's Southern Pale Ale is an enjoyable brew. While I would not consider it a stellar pale ale, it certainly deserves to be recognized as a good beer. It fills multiple roles as teacher, bridge builder and session beer. I can recommend this beer to any level of beer fan, but especially to novices. It's mild enough to enjoy without distraction, yet flavorful enough to appreciate as a stylistic insight. As an added bonus, it goes great with Cajun cuisine. So if you ever find Natty Greene's Southern Pale Ale on the beer menu, order yourself a pint. You won't be disappointed.